Education Commons^™

Instilling Motivation, Embracing Mistakes, And Fostering Grit: Using The Rubik's Cube In Elementary Classrooms, Samantha Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research into the use of a Rubik’s cube in an elementary classroom can provide future implications on fostering grit through a growth mindset. Although previous studies show grit to be a predictor of student success, research surrounding the literature does not address how grit can be taught in the classroom. This mixed methods study explored the missing research by examining the differences between cognitive and non-cognitive skills with the influence of a deliberate practice. The Rubik’s cube acted as the instructional tool to foster grit and growth mindset by engaging students in a motivating challenge that builds perseverance and critical …

Empowering Learners Through Habits Of Mind And Personalized Pathways: An Ethnographic Study, Megan Amundson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

While teaching using a personalized learning concept, it was discovered that learners did not have the necessary social emotional skills that they needed in order to successfully make decisions for their learning. Throughout researching personalized learning, engagement, self-pacing, and empowered learning three different Habits of Mind, the school district’s social emotional learning program, were identified to teach to a small group of learners in grades three through six to help them better understand what personalized learning is and why they are doing it in order to take ownership of their learning. Therefore this research question was created: How does the …

An Orchestral Percussionist's Guide To Instruments Of The Caribbean, Lucas Brust

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sparked by the introduction of Janissary percussion into the works of the First Viennese School, composers have been steadily expanding the musical responsibilities and tonal palette of the orchestral percussion section. Most institutions of higher education extensively address the traditional orchestral percussion instruments and only relatively recently have these institutions begun incorporating the more “exotic” percussion instruments from various indigenous musical traditions. With the resources and proposed performance practices suggested in this document, orchestral percussionists can gain the knowledge and familiarity to identify the instruments by name and construction, demonstrate fluency in technique and sound production, and display basic understanding …

Game Based Intervention To Develop Early Childhood Mathematical Understanding And Decrease Gaps Related To Socioeconomic Status, Lydia Flynn

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Early mathematical understanding is important for later success in mathematics. Game based interventions can be a successful means by which to help young students to improve their mathematical understandings. The purpose of this study is to examine whether a math game that was to be played at home improved the mathematical understanding of kindergarten students. Kindergarten students, from rural Idaho, were assigned to a group that played math games (n = 15) or a control group that did not (n = 13). The intervention group was given a simple math game and instructed to play 20 times in a …

Understanding Principals’ Knowledge Of Special Education, Whitney G. Schexnider

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The percentage of students identified as eligible to receive special education services in the United States has grown from 8.3% in the 1976-77 school year to 14% during the 2018-19 school year (Hussar et al., 2020). Given this level of growth and the myriad of levels of support principals provide for students with disabilities, one would assume that principal preparation programs have adjusted their curriculum to ensure future school administrators are prepared to support every student, including those with disabilities. The purpose of this research study is to better understand how current school administrators learned special education-related information for their …

The Systematic Implementation Of An Innovative Postgraduate Online Learning Model In The Middle East, Nessrin Shaya, Laila Mohebi

All Works

This paper aims at examining the factors contributing to effective implementation of online learning in the Middle East higher education sector, through investigating the success and learning effectiveness of an innovative online learning model offered jointly by three prestigious universities in two different Arab countries. A mixed-method research approach was employed to triangulate data collected from key stakeholders engaged with the programme, namely senior managers and enrolled students, to derive findings that would inform managers, trainers and educators, from a systemic implementation, faculty-development and course-design perspective. Qualitative data gathered from face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with a number of senior managers took …

Effects Of Behavioral Skills Training On Preservice Teachers’ Ability To Code Articles, Rena Vanderwall

Dissertations

The research-to-practice gap in education has been well documented over the decades (e.g., Abbott et al., 1999; Burns & Ysseldyke, 2009; Cook & Odom, 2013; van Ingen & Ariew, 2015). To best benefit PreK-12 student outcomes, educators must understand and implement scientifically based practices in their teaching (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., 2015; Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., 2004). However, this task can be daunting. When presented with educational research, teachers often struggle with identifying the key information, as well as applying it to their …

Title I High School Counselors’ Perception Of Influence On College Admission And Perseverance On Low Socioeconomic Students, Stephanie N. Baker

Education Doctoral

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the high school counselor’s perception of their ability to influence low socioeconomic students’ postsecondary enrollment decisions in nine Title I high schools in northern New Jersey. The research questions explored how high school counselors are able to support students from low socioeconomic backgrounds with their decision to enroll at institutions of higher education. This study also examined how elements at the district and school level influence the high school counselor’s ability to provide postsecondary counseling to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Data, which consisted of individual interviews and archival materials …

Transition Planning For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Transition Coordinator’S Perspective, Stephanie Quarles

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perception of transition coordinators as they help students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition from high school to college or post-school activities, including postsecondary education and employment. This research study considered practices of transition coordinators and determined if they were aligned with current best practices, while highlighting challenges and barriers to good transition planning. Semi-structured interviews were used which revealed four major themes: (a) transition process differences, (b) financial issues, (c) parental/family involvement, and (d) transition planning practices. Findings revealed that poor transition outcomes are influenced by lack of standardized …

Athletic Identity And Identity Foreclosure Among Division Iii National Junior College Athletic Association Student-Athletes, Egbert Shillingford

Education Doctoral

t The purpose of this survey study was to replicate Deborah L. Borak’s doctoral dissertation, Measuring the Levels of Athletic Identity and Identity Foreclosure Among Student Athletes at a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) College. Using a diverse sample of student-athletes across six Division III (DIII) NJCAA colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, 113 DIII student-athletes completed online surveys to measure their demographics (sports played, gender, ethnicity, years played), athletic identity, and identity foreclosure. Consistent with previous studies, the DIII junior college athletes in this study also reported high levels of athletic identity and identity …

Collaborative Practices Between Law Enforcement And Secondary School Administrators Through A Trauma-Informed Lens, Ellen Howe

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the level of collaboration and preparation between school administrators and police officers relating to trauma-informed practices with secondary school-aged students, including those students with traumatic histories. This study explored the perspectives of police officers and school administrators when working to address disciplinary situations of secondary school students. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) “Four Rs” of trauma—realization, recognition, response, and resisting retraumatization—were used as a framework to inform the study. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews of secondary school principals and the corresponding police officers affiliated with …

The Effects Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction On K-12 Educator Stress, Burnout, And Well-Being, Carmen Gumina

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this randomized, controlled study was to examine the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention, on educator stress, well-being, and burnout. A total of 44 educators volunteered to participate in this study: 22 were randomized into an 8-week MBSR intervention using a 100% virtual platform, and 22 were randomized into a control group that did not receive the MBSR intervention. Preand post-intervention assessments were collected from each participant using validated scales that measured the participants’ overall well-being, stress, and components of burnout. This study conclusively shows that MBSR can reduce the levels of self-reported stress, anxiety, and …

Perceptions Of Internship Participation By Nontraditional Students Enrolled In Community College, Kathleen Ceng

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine how nontraditional students enrolled in community colleges perceive their internship experience from preenrollment to completion. While adult learning theory suggests that experiential learning is a good fit for nontraditional students, it is unknown to what degree nontraditional student characteristics interfere with their engagement in such, or if experiential learning improves nontraditional student persistence. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized to understand the study participants’ lived experiences of internship participation as well as how, if at all, situational or institutional factors impacted their internship engagement. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with …

Rediscovering Hope: An Empirical Phenomenological Exploration Of The Veteran Peer Support Provider Journey Through Recovery And Beyond, Bobbi Smith

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this empirical phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the experience of United States military veteran peer support providers. Veterans are an at-risk population when it comes to mental illness, substance use, and suicide. Veterans in recovery for mental illness or substance use can become peer support specialists and use their own recovery as a model to help other struggling veterans. However, providing peer services exposes veteran peer providers to the traumatic stories and suffering of their peers. Per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5, such exposure can cause secondary trauma symptoms in the provider. Person-centered …

Teacher Stress Sources, Manifestations, And Coping Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amanda S. Locke-Bayer

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine the stress sources, stress manifestations, and coping efficacy of K–12 teachers during COVID-19 with a sample of 220 K–12 teachers in New York State. Chronic exposure to stress can lead teachers to experience poor emotional and physical health, causing them to often exit the field of education. In addition, the effects of teacher stress can create a tremendous financial burden on school districts and negatively influence learning environments for students. The results of this study suggest that K–12 teachers with high levels of time management stress reported decreased confidence in …

Perceptions And Engagement Of Interprofessional Collaboration Between Registered Nurses And Physical Therapists In A Home Health Care Setting, Mike Seils

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of how registered nurses (RNs) and physical therapists (PTs) perceive and engage in interprofessional collaboration in the home care setting. Research evidence in acute-care settings shows interprofessional collaboration between health care providers improves patient outcomes. However, there is limited research on how interprofessional collaboration is performed and perceived in the home health care setting. Additionally, there is less research specifically on the relationship of RNs and PTs in the home care setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight home care RNs and eight PTs working for a nonprofit certified …

From Studebaker To Warp Speed: The Journey Of Frontline Supervisors From Face To Face To Electronic Learning And Communication, Lori Franke

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of the study is to develop a playbook for front-line supervisors and assistant supervisors to reference when sent information via electronic communications (email) on new initiatives.

What Aspects Of Teaching Generate Burnout In Teachers With Five Or Less Years Of Experience?, Paige Peterson

Leadership Education Capstones

The educational field can prove to be a stressful occupation with various aspects being more stressful than others. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the aspects of teaching that generate burnout in teachers with five years or less of teaching experience. The study used an anonymous online survey to collect data from teachers in the state of Minnesota. Research questions aimed to understand which aspects of teaching are the most stressful, how grade level (elementary, middle school, or high school) impacts burnout, and if professional development could help limit burnout. A total of 289 individuals participated …

Implementing A Standardized Lost And Found Procedure At Mayo Clinic, Andra Boyum

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this project is to create standardization within the Lost and Found guideline so that stakeholders can utilize their resources with confidence.

Minutes Of The State Board Of Education: Container Contents And Inventory, Alisha Cantrell

Finding Aids

This collection contains items dating from 1940-1941, including board meeting minutes and correspondence.

A Middle School Choral Methodology And Curriculum Pairing, Eunice Nogueras-Negron

Masters Theses

Studies show that middle school choral education is beneficial to its participants, yet there is a lack of resources such as curriculums or methodologies to better equip students and teachers. This thesis will explore the possibility of the future development of a middle school choral music methodology that follows similar structures to that of widely accepted music methodologies such as Orff Schulwerk, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and Kodaly Concepts. This research is intended to aid middle school choral music educators who are seeking to improve the quality and intentionality of their instruction.

Homeschooling, Social Isolation, And Life Trajectories: An Analysis Of Formerly Homeschooled Adults, Daniel Hamlin, Albert Cheng

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

A longstanding critique of homeschooling is that it isolates children from mainstream society, depriving them of social experiences needed to thrive as adults. Although a small number of empirical studies challenge this criticism, this research tends to be derived from self-reports of homeschooling parents about their children. In this study, analyses of qualitative interviews (n = 31) and survey data (n = 140) of adults who were homeschooled as children are performed. Most interview participants described conventional and unconventional social experiences that they felt had satisfied their social needs while being homeschooled. Participants who were homeschooled for all or most …

The Relationship Between Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, Leadership Style, And Student Achievement In High Poverty Schools, Roldan Castro

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study unfolds the amount of a relationship a principal's emotional intelligence, leadership style, and student achievement has in high poverty schools. Principal's emotional quotient was measured using the MSCEIT assessment in four areas: perceiving emotions, using emotions, understanding emotions, and managing emotions. Leadership style was measured using the MLQ 5X survey through the lens of their teachers, classifying a principal as a transformational, transactional, or passive leader. 2019 Texas Academic Progress Reports reading and mathematics scores were used for participating principals. The sample included eight participating school districts is the South Texas region, in which a range of …

A Phenomenological Collective Case Study Of Mexican American Gifted Dropouts In South Texas, Albert Irlas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the shared experiences of formally identified gifted Mexican American students that decided to drop out of high school in the south Texas region. The researcher utilized a phenomenological collective case study approach that investigated the influences that led gifted learners to drop out of high school via a series of semi-structured interviews that collected and analyzed the shared narrative data (Creswell, 2013; Degand, 2015; Seidman, 2014). Prevailing studies have found that Mexican American gifted learners are more likely to live in economically depressed communities, more likely to suffer from linguistic and cultural …

Exploring Latinx Alumni Donor Motivations At Hispanic Serving Institutions, Monica Alejandre

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Higher education is a funding priority every state should invest in. However, the great recession of 2008 left a catastrophic impact on how public universities in the United States are funded thus mobilizing higher education institutions to seek external support. This focus has led to public universities developing advancement programs to cultivate and solicit alumni support. With the average alumni giving rate at 10% across the nation and 2.8% more specifically for HSIs, and more Latinx students graduating with their bachelor’s degrees, it is important for universities to understand philanthropic motivations among their Latinx alumni population.

This study explored Latinx …

Not Your Queer Model Minority: Exploring The Realities Of Lgb Asian American Student Affairs Professionals, Kevin Nguyen Chastain

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

LBG Asian Americans are a minority group in higher education and among Student Affairs administrators. LGB Asian Americans and their experiences have received little attention due to the intersection of sexual orientation and race. It is critical to understand the realities that this community faces and to provide an opportunity for this community to claim an identity that is both honest and transparent. The goal of this research is to better understand how the intersection of racial identity and sexuality has influenced the experiences of Asian American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students in Student Affairs roles at colleges and …

Senior Administrators In Higher Education: Following The Feminist Road To The Ivory Tower, Angelina Gomez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Today there is a considerable amount of literature documenting the gender oppression of women in the American workforce, including academia. Unfortunately, this results in an insignificant amount of literature available that narrates the successes of the few women who have navigated the labyrinth of academia and served as a President or Chancellor of a 4-year, public university. This study will help bridge the literature gap by sharing the exploits of four elite women who overcame barriers created through university policy and procedures, historical academe culture, and genderism.

A narrative analysis methodology was used to examine the ideology of leadership within …

Exploring Civic Mindedness And Social Empathy Through Storytelling: A Social Justice Oriented-Participatory Action Research Study, Ellen Whitehead

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study contributed to past research on civic-mindedness and social empathy by conducting a social justice-oriented participatory action research study at a research university with a predominately diverse student population. A participatory action research approach centers students' experiences as coresearchers, which complements the purpose of community and civic engagement, as they both support social transformation (Benjamin-Thomas et al., 2018).

This study encompasses four constructs to address how and why higher education can cultivate social change agents and invigorate civic engagement among today's college students. The constructs are civic-mindedness, social empathy, validation theory, and cocurricular cultural awareness workshop series. The coresearchers …

A Mixed-Method Study On The Mentor Experiences At A Public 4-Year University, Avisinia Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Traditionally, students sign up for peer mentoring programs to receive services and resources as mentees in order to be successful in college. Studies have shown that mentoring relationships benefit mentees (Salinitri, 2005; Morales, 2009) while others (Colvin and Ashman, 2010; Gannon and Maher, 2012; Good et al. 2000) examined how mentors received training to support mentees. The studies exploring the experiences of mentors is not as robust, this study tries to explain the self-reflection unexpected benefits of mentors who participate in peer mentoring programs.

This mixed-method study examined the experiences first-generation peer mentors have at a pubic four-year university. Though …

Home Literacy As A Way To Improve Students’ Academic Achievement And Motivation, Foster Strong Familial Relationships, And Bridge The Gap Between Home And School: A Framework For Custom Family Literacy Programs, Julia Marie Brown

Masters Projects

A child’s home environment is one of the greatest contributors to their social and cultural background, as it innately impacts their educational experiences and attitudes towards learning. Similarly, language development and literacy are deeply rooted in social, cultural, and historical experiences. Thus, the integration of literacy within home environments can strengthen families, contribute to overall academic success, and increase motivation and engagement amongst learners. While researchers and educators alike agree that fostering strong home literacy environments is beneficial for families as a whole and children as learners, many family literacy programs fail to bridge the gap between home and school …